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Economic Development

Sirmax dedicates Anderson headquarters

NDERSON – Although the Sirmax plant in Anderson has been operating for several months, the official dedication ceremony took place Thursday with the announcement of a planned expansion.

Sirmax North America made an initial investment of $25.6 million in the Anderson headquarters with plans to make another investment of $5 million.

The company purchased 26 acres on the former Guide Corp. property on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near the intersection with 25th Street.

Lorenzo Ferro, manager of the Anderson plant since construction of the building started in 2015, said it is currently operating two production lines in three shifts with plans to add a third production line.

The company currently has 25 employees. Employment is expected to reach 50 in 2020.

“Anderson proved to be the perfect location,” Ferro said. “It is in close proximity to our suppliers and customers.”

Ferro said the expansion is planned for 2018 and will bring production capacity to 80 million pounds of plastic components for the automotive, home appliance, electrical and furniture industry.

“We’re ready to take the next challenge,” he said. “Our plans are to double the size of the building.”

Mayor Thomas Broderick Jr. said the fact that Sirmax choose Anderson for its North American headquarters says a great deal about the community.

“This is a company on the move,” he said. “It is at the top of their craft.”

Broderick said there was a time when every General Motors automobile produced had parts manufactured in Anderson.

“This continues that tradition,” he said. “Something in your home was made in Anderson.”

Elaine Bedel, president of the Indiana Economic Development Corp., said Sirmax looked throughout Indiana before deciding to locate in Anderson.

“You picked one of the gems in Anderson,” she said.

Bedel said Indiana is ranked No. 1 in the Midwest for attracting new industry because of low taxes and the state’s stable fiscal position.

“We’re not changing the rules on businesses looking to come to Indiana,” she said. “Look at our foreign investments. Over 800 foreign-owned businesses are in Indiana providing 200,000 jobs.”

Massimo Pavin, CEO of Sirmax, said the company chose Anderson because it wanted to be close to its global customers.

“It only took seven months to complete this facility,” he said. “It was possible because of the support from the community. This is the right environment.”

The city provided $4.1 million in incentives for Sirmax to locate on the former brownfield property. The incentives include $250,000 to purchase the property and $250,000 for utility work.

The Anderson Redevelopment Commission and the Indiana Department of Economic Development are each providing $600,000 for a rail spur on the property.